2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PIED5703M Comparative Public Policy

15 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Soohyun Lee
Email: s.c.lee@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides students with a comprehensive overview of the nature and variations in policy between states, across a range of key policy areas. Students will acquire an advanced knowledge of theoretical approaches to policy-making as well as an advanced understanding of various policy designs and instruments. Moreover, students will gain an advanced understanding of how key public policy domains (economic, welfare, labour market and education policies) are designed and implemented. On completion of the module students should be able to competently analyse similarities and differences in public policy across states. Students will develop higher levels of transferable skills of research, organisation and communication through the course work and assessed essay.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to ...
1. Develop an advanced understanding to the study of comparative public policy.
2. Develop advanced skills of investigating how policies are formulated and implemented.
3. Develop advanced methodological and analytical skills of comparative analysis.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should have
1. An advanced knowledge of the broad range of content and instruments of key policy areas.
2. An advanced understanding of theories of policy making and policy development.
3. An advanced analytical skills examining similarities and variations in public policy between states.

Skills outcomes
Students will develop skills in
• Comprehending public policies as the outputs of the political system
• Scrutinising dynamics of policy-making according to various stages of policy cycle
• Explaining policy change using theoretical approaches to policy-making
• Critically analysing the strengths and limitations of key approaches to policy-making
• Conducting a comparative analysis using various methodological techniques
• Working in small-groups to investigate policy reform using key concepts

Syllabus

• Why study and compare public policies?
• The policy process
• Interests and public policy
• Ideas and public policy
• Institutions and public policy
• Policy transfer and learning
• Economic policy
• Welfare policy
• Labour Market policy
• Education policy

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			130.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students will be required to prepare for discussions in seminars through extensive reading of sources listed on the module reading list. In addition to this, students should spend time preparing for their assessments which could include finding and using sources not listed on their reading list.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will have an opportunity to submit a mid-term formative assessment (a detailed essay outline up to 1,000 words). Detailed instructions will be given to students how to structure and prepare their essay outline. Students will be given feedback on their assessment and an opportunity to discuss it in-depth in person with the module leader

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3000 word essay end of semester	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

A 1,000 mid-term formative assessment.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 05/09/2017

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